Face rest



May 8, 1951 A. c. cosTi-:LLo 2,551,727

FACE REST Filed Dec. l2, 1949 2 SheetnS-Sheet l May 8, 1951 A. c. COSTELLO 2,551,727

FACE REST Filed DGC- 12, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE FACE REST Anne C. Costello, Boston, Mass. Application December 12, 1949, Serial No. 132,619

2 Claims.

This invention relates to face rests, and more particularly to a face rest of improved and advantageous construction.

People often wish to recline face downwards for periods of time, such as during sun-bathing or for the relief of various aches or pains, for example, during attacks of indigestion. Accordingly an object of this invention is to provide a face rest of simple and advantageous construction to support comfortably the face of a person lying on the stomach with the face downwards. Another object is to provide a face rest having the above described features which will be light in weight and convenient to use and handle,

which face rest will be healthful and may be maintained readily and easily in a healthful and sanitary condition.

In accordance with the above and other objects, I have provided by this invention a face rest having an upstanding, elevated frame, light in weight but of sturdy and safe construction without sharp corners or projections, which will set rmly on any level surface upon which the user may chose to lie. This frame, shaped to circumscribe the head of the user from shoulder to shoulder, at a distance therefrom suiiicient to be removed from any chance of contact therewith, is curved in form, and defines the major portion of the periphery of the face rest area and extends upwardly a height which will elevate the face of a person resting on the face support positioned across the top thereof, sufliciently to provide comfort and free circulation of air to the nose and mouth through an aperture in said face support. I have provided a face support shaped to cover the area included by the arcuate frame and constructed of cleanable material which readily may be attached to the upper portion of the frame or removed therefrom for cleaning. Preferably this face support is attached by lacing it to the top of the frame to give the degree of tautness desired by the user for his individual comfort. Conveniently the edge of the face support upon which the neck of the user would rest is constructed with a draw string which provides an adjustable, yieldable support for that edge and which may be secured to the top of the arcuate frame at each end thereof. This face support is apertured to provide access to freely circulating air for the nose and mouth of the user while the surrounding parts of the face are comfortably supported. Preferably this face support is constructed from two layers of cleanable material such as soft, washable, fabric. Conveniently these two layers may have a common fold along the edge extending between the ends of the supporting frame. By placing a line of stitching parallel to but inwardly from said fold a draw string readily may be passed therebetween. By placing a line of stitching parallel to but inwardly from the circular cut-ends of the fabric, aps are provided to wrap respectively over and under the upper open-ended curved member of the frame. These naps may be eyeleted so that a lacing passed therebetween will serve to lash the face support to the frame. The nose-mouth aperture may` be suitably bound. Padding may be placed between the two layers of fabric if desired. Preferably this of a washable type if it is to be permanently enclosed, otherwise provision may be made for its removal and separate sanitizing.

The structure provided by this invention makes itpossible for a person desiring to recline face downwards to do so more comfortably. It allows the user to assume a position wherein the head is elevated above the rest of the body, a position generally preferred as being more comfortable than a prone position. It conformably supports the head and neck of the user, the face support being adjustably attached to the supporting frame. And it rests the face on a support providing a cushioning surface to the portions of the face bearing the weight of the head and a free circulation of air to the nose and mouth.

It will be apparent that the combination of the light weight frame and the simple, light weight, washable face support which may be kept in sanitary condition and quickly attached to the frame when needed results in increased comfort and convenience to the user. Other advantages will be seen from the description of the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a face rest according to this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the supporting frame; and

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the top of the face rest with the face support opened up to show the attachment thereof to the supporting frame.

In Fig. 1 is shown a laterally curved, upstanding frame 2 and a face support 4 suspended from said frame by means of lacing li, passing thrcugh eyelets 8 provided on the margin-al iiaps i9 of said face support, and lashing it to the upper rim of said frame.

Frame 2 is shown (Fig. 3) as comprising two similar horizontal arcuate members, namely, a base member` i2 and a top member ill. These members are shown as of rail-like character, curved to define an arc greater than a half circle, which will circumscribe the head of a person from shoulder to shoulder sufciently distant therefrom to be removed from any chance of contact therewith. The members l2 and lil .suitably may have a length of about 3S inches. The ends of the base member l2 are shown secured together by means of a cross member l5. This cross member l5 serves to stabilize the seat of the frame on any substantially level surface upon which it may be placed. Suitably this cross member i5 may have a length of about le inches. stability, the stock employed for the base, top and cross member preferably has a thickness of about 1 inch and conveniently may be of cylindrical cross-section. The base member l2 and the top membel` i6 are shown held in vertical spaced relation by means of stanchions id. he length of these stanchions together with the thickness of the base and tcp members determine the ele vation of the face support l above the level of the surface upon which the frame rests. lt has been found that the stanchions i3 suitably may hve a length of about 3 inches when employed vi the above described stock. The thickness of .ne stanchions, however, preferably is aboutI half that of the base and top members to facilitate securing the stanchions to the said i ribera The stock for the construe n of the frame should be of strong but light weight material, and suitably may be of wood, such as oak, or hollow metal tubing such as of aluminum. lf wood is employed, the joints preferably are mcrtised and if hollow light weight metal tubing is used, the joints preferably are welded. It will be apparent that a frame constructed of cylindrical or tubular stock and joined in the preferred manner is highly advantageous in that it is free from any sharp edges or projections which might cause injury to the person or damage property.

The face support 4 is shaped to cover the area circumscribed by the upper frame member ill. This face support Il is shown as hav. -g a body portion 2G for the support of a perscns face. This body portion 2Q is shown cen ally apertured to provide nose-mouth opening 22 whereby air from beyond stanchions i3 may circulate freely to the persons nose and mouth. 7Face support is also shown provided with a pair of marginal flaps id secured to the curving' edge of body portion 2d by stitching 23 and adapted to wrap respectively, over and under the top member iii cf the frame. These flaps are shown provided with spaced eyelets 8 through which a lacing t may be passed to lash the face support fi to the top frame member i4. Face support l is shown further provided with a straight marginal support 3l) adjacent to the straight edge of the body portion and extending over the ends of top frame member ill. This marginal support Srl provides a firm support for the body portion 2Q between the open ends of the frame and is adjustable to the comfort of the person Whose neck is supported thereon. This marginal support 3e is shown comprising the combination of a hein or overfolded portion E?. secured at the straight outer edge of body portion 2i) with rows of stitching and a draw string 36 run along the margin within the fold. The ends of the hem or overfolded portion are shown (Fig. l) slipped over the ends of the top frame member it and the draw string 36 Lili.

tightened to give the desired tension to the marginal support and the ends tied to the ends of the lacing G around the end stanchions I8 to hold the lashed and draw string supported face support 4 in position on the frame 2.

Preferably the face support 4 is fashioned from two layers of washable fabric and this conveniently may be accomplished by folding a length of material double and placing the fold to correspond in position with the marginal support 30. Then merely by placing rows of stitching 34 the fold is `adapted to receive the draw string, and by placing a circular line of stitching 28 inward from the circular cut edges a distance equal to the width of the marginal flaps lthe extension of the top and bottom layers therebeyond provide the two flaps ready for eyeleting, and by suitably binding the nose-mouth opening 22, the face support is fashioned.

lf a softer face support is desired padding 38 may be placed between the two layers of fabric as shown in Fig. 2. The padding is shown retaining the draw string in marginal position and the rows of stitching longitudinally strengthening each layer and not connecting them. Preferably this padding should be washable. However, it is within the scope of this invention to provide closures on the under surface of the face support tc permit padding tc be removably introduced.

l-l'aving described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A face rest for the support of the face of a person lying face downward comprising, in combination, an elevated supporting frame shaped partially to encircle a face rest area, said frame including an arcuate supporting member arranged to rest on the body supporting surface; a cross member connecting the ends of said arcuate member and holding them in predetermined relation; spaced, vertical supporting members extending upwardly from said arcuate base member, and a second arcuate supporting member substantially parallel with said base member and secured to said vertical members; a centrally apertured, fabric face support shaped to conform to the upper arcuate supporting member and flapped and eyeleted adjacent to said supporting member, said face rest being overfolded at the portion connecting the ends of said supporting member and arranged to receive a draw string in said overfolded portion; lacings cooperating with said eyeleting and said upper arcuate member to secure the face support to said upper arcuate member around the periphery thereof, and a draw string carried by said face support and connecting the ends of the upper supporting member and providing a yielding support for the face support between the open ends of said upper supporting member.

2. A face rest for the support of the face of a person lying face downward comprising, in combination, a supporting frame including two similar rails curved to denne the major portion of the face rest, a connecting rail joining the two ends of the lower curved rail and forming therewith a base support, and spaced stanchions supporting the second rail on the first rail at a substantially uniform height thereabove, a face support shaped to cover the area included by the upper rail and apertured substantially centrally, said face support including two layers of fabric stitched together to form marginal flaps along the curved edge thereof, a draw string receiving margin along the straight edge thereof extending between the ends of the upper rail, lacings securing said marginal flaps of the face support to said upper curved rail around the periphery thereof, and a draw string connecting the ends of the upper `curved rail to provide a yielding support for the face rest between the open ends of said upper curved rail.

ANNE C. COSTELLO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number Number Germany Aug. 23, 1929 

